iran is one of syria's key allies. last week iran hosted a conference for the syrian opposition and representatives of the syrian government, so what does iran have to gain in all of this? >> well, i think iran wants to see any political solution in its footprint all over it, but you want to bear in mind any opposition politician, iran is absolutely a key backer, a sustaining force behind the damascus regime. political solutions engineered by them are really going to lack credibility with the op sfwligs, but iran, as i say, accused by the rebels of being a key financier and armer, supporter of the damascus regime, and desperate to be sure that whatever emerges from this is something that it will control and get comfortable with. >> regionable stability is of a grave concern. turkey requested nato, deployed patriot missiles near its border with syria. how has damascus responded to that? >> obviously that's the last thing syria wants to see. the world's biggest military machine in history getting involved and backing up